Genesis 6: Lessons From God’s Pre-Flood Judgment Upon All Mankind

Introduction: Genesis chapter 6 explains the events that led to the Flood. Everything that happened in the Old Testament is a foreshadow of events that will unfold again in the New Testament. Just as God destroyed Noah’s world because of its sin, He will judge the world again during the end times. From this chapter, God reveals seven warnings for all of mankind.

First, from God’s judgment against the prohibited marriages between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men”, He warns all believers to stay separate from the unclean things of the world and holy for His use. Second, from the continuously evil desires of mankind that brought about the Flood, He also warns you to repent of the continuously evil desires of your heart. Third, from His warning that He would “blot out” the evil men in Noah’s day and His similar end-time warnings, give thanks that Jesus paid for your judgment with His death at the cross. Fourth, from Noah’s example of righteous conduct and his preaching to a fallen world, He also advises you to be a righteous example and exhort others to be righteous in Christ. Fifth, from His directions to Noah to build an ark in the shape of a tomb as the only means of salvation, He reveals that you are also to direct others to the only source of salvation through Christ. Sixth, through His promise of a new covenant through Noah, He reveals that He also offers you a New Covenant through Christ. Finally, from Noah’s obedience in following God’s instructions in the face of likely ridicule, He encourages you to be obedient in the face of ridicule as well.

1. Stay Separate from the Unclean Things of the World and Holy For His Use. Gen. 6:1-3.

Jheronimus Bosch ca. 1450 – 1516 (Garden of Earthly Delights - central panel)

2. Repent of the Evil Desires of Your Heart. Gen. 6:4-5.

3. Give Thanks that Jesus Paid For Your Judgment by Not Grieving the Spirit. Gen. 6:6-7.

4. Be a Righteous Example and Exhort Others to be Righteous in Christ. Gen. 6:8-10.

5. Direct Others to The Only Source of Salvation. Gen. 6:11-17.

(Bertram of Minden ca. 1340 – 1414/15 (The building of the ark)

6. The Promise of a New Covenant. Gen. 6:18-21.

7. Noah’s Faith Led to His Obedience. Gen. 6:22.


  1. Kenneth Mathews, “The New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture” Genesis 1-11:26, Vol. 1A, (B&H Publishing Group Nashville Tenn. 1996) p. 329.↩︎

  2. Mathews, p. 337.↩︎

  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal↩︎

  4. “Neanderthal brains focused on vision and movement leaving less room for social networking”. Science Daily. March 19, 2013.↩︎

  5. http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/Essays%206/Neanderthal.htm↩︎

  6. Mathews p. 364.↩︎

  7. David Guzik on Genesis chapter 6.↩︎